THE family of a little boy whose first day at school was ruined when his brand-new bike was stolen is appealing for witnesses to the crime.

Donna Coates had taken her son Charlie to the Phillips Memorial Park on Wednesday (September 7) after the first day of term at Moss Lane Primary School, where they left his bike propped against the railings as he played.

When it was time to head back home, the bike was forgotten and they quickly turned around in the car to return and retrieve it.

“We were only gone less than five minutes because we live just down the road,” said Mrs Coates. “In that short time, someone had come into the park and stolen it.

“It makes me feel sick that someone would take a child’s bike, and so quickly. You just don’t think that people are going to come around and target a child’s play area.”

She said that Charlie, six, had been very upset to learn that the bike was gone, as it had been a present for his birthday just last month from his parents and grandparents.

“He was planning to ride it to school every day and he was really excited about it,” she explained.

“It wasn’t really the best start to the term, it should have been a good day but it ended really badly.”

Staff at Moss Lane had been very helpful in trying to track down the bike, she added, as had some council-employed gardeners in the vicinity who helped her look for it.

Mrs Coates said: “We get permits to park in the school, but being the start of term we haven’t got them yet, so I was so worried about getting a ticket that I was distracted and didn’t notice anyone hanging around the park.

“I can’t afford to get a parking ticket, but now I can’t afford to buy a new bike.

“I am looking at secondhand bikes but in the meantime he’s without his wheels.

“My sister works within the police and she says they get so many of these kinds of thefts reported.”

She added that the theft was not covered on the family’s home insurance, so they weren’t feeling very hopeful that Charlie’s bike would be replaced soon.

Anyone who may have witnessed the theft or who has seen the bike, which is black with white writing on the frame, is asked to contact Surrey Police on 101.